Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, 36, is the author of Green Deen: What Islam Teaches About Protecting The Planet. He is a former adviser to New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg specializing in the field of environmental sustainability. Abdul-Matin also played linebacker for the University of Rhode Island football team.

A sports contributor for the radio show The Takeaway, Abdul-Matin tackles issues such as sports, politics, religion and environment.

Why is he on theGrio’s 100?

Abdul-Matin’s contributions to the environmental world landed him on theGrio’s 100. The focal point of his book merges his love of Islamic culture with principles that preserve nature’s harmony.

I was inspired to become a steward of the Earth when my father took me from the concrete jungle that is Brooklyn to Bear Mountain, a hiker’s paradise. I was five years old. I recall moss growing on rocks, mushrooms on rotting wood, and a freshness in the air. When it was time for the afternoon prayer, my father stopped to pray. I was used to praying at home or praying in a mosque. That day, my father told me, ‘The Earth is a Mosque. You can pray anywhere.’ From that moment on, I knew, if I could pray anywhere, then everywhere was sacred. It was my duty to protect the planet, to be a steward of the Earth.

“Deen” means belief, creed, path or way in Arabic. Christianity is a Deen. Judaism is a Deen. Buddhism is a Deen. A “Green Deen” is the choice to practice your religion while affirming the synergies between faith and the environment.

What’s next for Abdul-Matin?

Abdul-Matin made 2012 a benchmark year as he continued to spread his green message and its place within Islam.

He is a consultant for The Frontier Project, a company that specializes in innovation for large organizations. We look for this trailblazer to have a sensational 2013.